Karachi confirmed on Saturday that barring England ODI and T20 skipper Eoin Morgan who has opted out of Pakistan tour due to family reasons, all other players including England’s Ravi Bopara, Joe Denly, Tymal Mills, West Indian Lendl Simmons and South African duo of Colin Ingram and David Wiese have consented to play in Lahore and Karachi (if they make the final).

Despite the disappointing loss against the Islamabad United and being unable to reach the final of the Pakistan Super League, Karachi Kings coach Mickey Arthur vowed that the team will come back much stronger when given another opportunity on Wednesday.

“It was really disappointing last night. That was our worst game of the competition. Ronchi played exceptionally well, but we scrapped hard to get back in the game on the back of a really good competition between Denly and Ingram,” he said while speaking to ARY News.

Arthur admitted that the tone was not set well enough, and was focused on Ronchi who took the game away from them. However, he vowed that the team will emerge stronger when given another opportunity.

“It is amazing what pressure does to you, and more so as the competition goes further. When there are death red consequences, as there was last night, that’s when there is more pressure and more mistakes are made.”

“So we got be better than that and come back stronger on Wednesday,” he vowed.

When asked about the fact the team gelled so well this year especially with the presence of foreign players such as Tymall Mills, Joe Denly and Colin Ingram, he said it was the reason they were recruited and helped to give good team value, help the younger players and their performance which they delivered.

“It’s been a great team to be part of. We have really structured, organised, and played some really good cricket. But hopefully our best cricket is yet to come,” he said.

Arthur was also asked if the team management’s plans to reply on more dependable players rather than big names is making in more easily manageable.

“We know each other well now. In the first year, we were finding our feet, and in year two we gelled really well, and this year we got a great deal for our team.”

“There has been a significant improvement. We have gone from fourth to third to second, if you look at the table, and can hopefully reach number one.”

When asked that Imad Wasim and Shahid Afridi, despite facing injuries, create the ‘electricity’ within the team which was carried by Amir and Usman Shinwari, Arthur said that having a good team in which everyone knows the roles creates that phenomenon.

“All the teams here are exceptionally good, so you never have an easy game. Every game here makes a tough contest, and that’s what has made the competition so good.”

Arthur said that as the competition intensifies the team that hold its nerve, stays calm and doesn’t panic and can execute, will be the one which emerges to the top.

He refused to pick his preference between the Peshawar Zalmi and the Quetta Gladiators for the next match, but said they will pick their best combination after the match tomorrow.

Karachi Kings bowler David Wiese has expressed his excitement playing for the first time in Pakistan, as the team seeks to qualify for the final of the Pakistan Super League.

“I think it was an easy decision at the end of the day. People have been working hard to take cricket back to Pakistan. Ever since last year PSL final there have lots of movement forward,” he told ARY News when asked about his decision to visit Pakistan.

“I think it’s great for Pakistan cricket to take cricket back to the country. There are so many passionate fans there. I think it is going to be so enjoyable.”

Wiese said the playing in tournaments like the PSL gives the opportunity to meet new people, play under new coaches, talented players and learn from their experience to improve his own performance.

“That is the thing about these tournaments all over the world. You have a new coach so you have new ideas and learn to improve your game. You get to learn from top class international players.

“This is the first time I’ve played with Shahid Afridi, so to pick his brain on different things is great. He has been doing it for so many years. So for me the main thing is to interact with so many different superstars.”

When asked if the bowling has been stronger throughout the tournament, Wiese said that it has the main strength of their team and the local Pakistan bowlers have been fantastic for them

He said that no match has seen a score more than 200, neither did the situation permit. However, he said that it has been a tradition for Pakistan to produce excellent left-arm bowlers.

When asked about the fielding in the tournament, Wiese said that it was rather weird as the situation changed as initially the standard were high but it ultimately dropped probably due to the changing condition or the lightning, but hoped it would pick up..

Wiese said that it is exciting for him to play in different conditions as he has never played in Pakistan before, and this would be learning experience for him.

“I have never been to Pakistan, so it is going to be learning curve for me for playing in those conditions. So these are exciting time for us.

“It is not often that you get to play all over the world. So to play in Pakistan, one of the Test playing nations I have never been to before, is just a fantastic opportunity to me to learn about the game there”.

Karachi Kings will play the second eliminator on Wednesday. The team arrived on Monday in Lahore and will hold a training camp. The foreign players who arrived are Joe Denly, Tymal Mills, Colin Ingram, David Wiese and Ravi Bopara.

The winner of the second eliminator will play the final against Islamabad United on March 25 in Karachi.

WHEN Luke Ronchi, the former Kiwi batsman and Islamabad United opener, dismantled the Karachi Kings with an exhilarating knock in the first playoff, it did not come as a surprise to many.

Yes Ronchi was absolutely unstoppable on Sunday, but the way Karachi Kings had bowled to him throughout the tournament, such a hammering was definitely on the cards.

While Ronchi made hay under the lights, the fans and critics kept on wondering whether Karachi Kings had a definite bowling plan for him, or any bowling plan at all for Islamabad United?

The stats reveal that Ronchi prefers to play against the pacers, especially in the Powerplay overs, and yet only a single over was bowled to him by a spinner and that too by a half-fit Shahid Afridi.

As if that was not enough, Ronchi’s cause was further helped by Karachi Kings’ poor fielding efforts. He was dropped thrice off three different bowlers, including twice off two consecutive deliveries at one stage.

The pacers kept feeding short balls to him without having a square-leg in place which was a blunder of sorts. All Ronchi had to do then was to oblige and put the bat on the ball. Of his magnificent 94 not out, a whopping 78 runs came in boundaries. That’s how good he was and that’s how poor the Karachi Kings’ bowlers were.

The irony is that this wasn’t the first instance where Ronchi had dominated Karachi Kings with such aggression. In the league-stage match played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium earlier this month, he had scored a 37-ball 71 against the same opposition. There was no reason why Kings couldn’t have come up with a better bowling plan against him. But as it eventually turned out, they only helped him better his record against them.

Even in the match against Peshawar Zalmi, Kings’ bowlers were smashed all-around the park by Kamran Akmal, Saad Nasim and Darren Sammy.

To be fair to Kings, one could say that they had also been unlucky insofar the injuries to their key players are concerned. Having said that, a professional bowling plan and homework of rivals batting by the team management could have avoided the embarrassing defeats that came Kings’ way in the later league games.

Karachi Kings’ bowlers have had mixed results till now and were often taken to cleaners as they showed vulnerability when under attack.

One look at the bowling consultant of Kings, though, tells you why their approach resembled that of the Pakistan team in big games. Ex-all rounder Azhar Mahmood does the job for both, and quite a bad job at that.

Despite having good bowling resources, Azhar has repeatedly failed to utilise them for both Kings and Pakistan. Comparing Kings with Pakistan then would not be totally off the mark since both would be brilliant one day and horrible the next.

Pakistan’s clinical performances with the ball in the Champions Trophy do seem like a flash in the pan now when one makes a close analysis. Pakistan had not conceded more than 236 after conceding 300 in the opening game against India and the batsmen didn’t find the targets too challenging.

However, in the ODI series against New Zealand last month, they failed to restrict New Zealand to anything below 250 apart from one game that was affected badly by rain and was won by New Zealand by eight wickets.

It is time for the Pakistan Cricket Board to, perhaps, review Azhar Mahmood’s performance as bowling coach because he seems clearly unable to come up with clever or sound bowling strategies, ones that actually work in favour of his teams and not the oppositions. And if he is quick to claim the credit when the bowlers succeed, then he should also hold himself responsible when they fail miserably.

Great effort by Karachi this season..unfortunately Khi got struck with injuries and that too at the wrong time..IA khair next year...the best thing about psl no matter who wins it's still a Pakistani team.

Shinwari’s over in Power Play changed tempo of the game, says Karachi coach

LAHORE: Karachi Kings coach Mickey Arthur believed his team had conceded 20 runs too many to Peshawar Zalmi in the second eliminator which they lost by 13 runs in Lahore on Wednesday.

Zalmi notched up a solid 170-7 in the match which was reduced to 16-over-a-side with Pakistan discard Kamran Akmal smashing a belligerent 27-ball 77 studded with eight sixes and five boundaries.

Karachi Kings were behind the eight ball and despite half centuries from Joe Denly and Babar Azam managed 157-2 in their quota of overs.

Mickey disagreed Denly and Babar did not show desperation to reach the target.

“I think that’s unfair to say,” said Arthur. “They tried their hardest and they both scored at far quicker 130 strike rate but we went 20 runs too many. We got good batting depth I don’t think we can blame them but we were chasing 20 too many.”

Arthur believed the one over Usman Shinwari which cost 25 changed the tempo.

“We bowled very well for the first four overs. It was that Shinwari over where they got the momentum. Amir went for 16 in his four but that 25 run over gave them kick start their momentum,” said Arthur of the over in which Kamran smashed three boundaries and two sixes.

“We needed to get eight overs from two spinners and Ravi (Bopara). We clearly missed Shahid Afridi and Imad Wasim and if you put the two in the side and we have a very useful bowling unit,” said Arthur of the two who missed the game through injuries.

That forced the Karachi Kings to give captaincy to Mohammad Amir, a choice Arthur backed.

“We could have done differently but part of the PSL is producing Pakistan cricketers and leaders and I felt that by giving Amir an opportunity we gave another player to lead and perhaps we find something in his character that we can take forward,” siad Arthur.

KARACHI: Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings has found itself in a catch-22 situation after its platinum category player Babar Azam opposed the franchise’s decision to relegate him to the diamond category.

According to sources, Azam withdrew the initial request submitted by the franchise to relegate him and said that he wants to remain in the platinum category.

“Karachi Kings had submitted a relegation request for Babar Azam to be part of the diamond category, however, Azam has withdrawn the request stating that he would like to remain in the platinum category,” the source said.

Further, the source said, the young batsman felt degraded after Kings’s request regarding his relegations as he is currently the number one batsman in the shortest format of the game.

This has now put the Kings in a conundrum as far as retention in platinum categories is concerned.

Kings platinum players now include Azam, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Colin Ingram and Colin Munro, with the team being allowed to retain three players from the list, including one foreign player.

Had Azam agreed to the relegation, it would have become easier for Karachi Kings to retain him along with Aamir, Afridi and a foreign player in the roster.

The deadline for relegation request has passed leaving the King no chance for another request unless the Pakistan Cricket Board allows.

Teams have time till November 13th to confirm their retention before a final list for the players draft is released.

Former all-rounder Shahid Afridi and top-order batsman Babar Azam are unhappy with their Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings due to difference of opinion.

According to details, the Kings face a selection dilemma ahead of the PSL draft especially with regards to the players retained in the platinum category.

The Kings are pressuring Afridi — who is an icon player and also the captain of Pakhtoon team — not to take part in the T10 League and only play PSL.

On the other hand, the 38-year-old has refused to accept this demand of the franchise and it is very likely that he will not be retained by Kings. Instead his name will be placed in the draft — scheduled to take place on November 20 in Islamabad — where he can be picked by any other franchise.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam has also refused to accept demotion from platinum category to diamond category. As per the procedure, the franchise can retain any player — if he agrees — by offering him a different category.

Kings already have five players — Afridi, Azam, Colin Ingram, Colin Munro and Mohammad Amir — in platinum category but according to the rules they only retain three players from this group.

Wasim Akram joins Karachi Kings as President
The biggest franchise of Pakistan Super League Karachi Kings on Wednesday has announced the joining the of legendary fast-bowler Wasim Akram as its president for the fourth edition of the league.

The owner of the franchise Mr Salman Iqbal took his Twitter account to made the announcement, he expressed delight over the inclusion of the new President of Karachi Kings.

Earlier in the last season, Wasim was affiliated with the debutant Multan Sultans. He was also a mentor and coach of Islamabad United in the first two editions.

On Tuesday, Karachi Kings retained Babar Azam, Mohammad Amir and Colin Munro in the Platinum category as all six franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) finalized their retentions for the next edition of the league.

The Player Draft of the fourth edition of PSL will be held on November 20 in Islamabad whereas the league is scheduled to kick off from February 14 in the UAE.

Despite his reduced stock with Pakistan, Imad Wasim will captain his franchise again. This was another side that retained a number of core players, with Babar Azam, Mohammad Amir and Ravi Bopara prime among them.

Strengths: The balance between foreign and local quality is rather impressive. Stellar additions such as Colin Munro and Sikander Raza are complemented by Babar and Amir, while Usman Shinwari and Iftikhar Ahmed have shown enough quality of late to make their mark.

Weaknesses: Letting Joe Denly go could hurt them. The England opener was splendid all season earlier this year, his performance in the PSL arguably the catapult to his Man-of-the-Match return to the England T20 side after a decade out. With Imad more of an opening bowler and Raza a part-timer, there seems to be a bit too much pressure on Usama Mir to be the wicket-taking option Karachi will need him to be through the middle overs.

The owner of Karachi Kings, Mr Salman Iqbal revealed during an interview at the PSL 4 draft that New Zealand’s flamboyant opening batsman, Colin Munro will come to Pakistan to play the games scheduled in the country.

Pakistan Cricket Board is aiming to hold eight PSL 4 matches in Pakistan, three in Lahore and five in Karachi including the final of the event on March 17, 2019.

Karachi Kings picked Colin Munro in the Supplementary category during PSL 3, however, he did not feature the tournament due to his national duty. The franchise retained him for season 4 in the Platinum category, where he will play the whole season as an active player.

“We need international players in the side who can come to Pakistan,” said Mr Salman Iqbal during an interview at the draft. “We picked him last time in Supplementary, we are expecting him to play this year as a full player and he is coming to Pakistan also,” he added.

Talking about choosing the 22-year-old pacer Aaron Summers, from the Silver category, he said that the bowler is a bright prospect for Australia, having vicious speed at such a young age.

“We picked this new boy Aaron Summers, 22-year old, [bowls] 150 [km/h], he played for Brisbane [Heat] [in the Big Bash League], he is young upcoming fast bowler from Australia, he is one of the rising stars among fast bowlers in the world.”

The owner of Karachi Kings hailed PCB’s effort of hosting eight matches in the country including league matches, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

“Karachi’s fans will know that Karachi Kings will play at least two matches in their home ground, it would be a historical event, Lahore Qalandars playing in Lahore and Karachi Kings playing in Karachi,” he stated. “If we manage to stage our PSL in the country, it would be a good addition to our cricket.”

Karachi Kings picked Zimbabwe’s Sikander Raza in the Gold category, it surprised some of the fans, though it is a handy selection for the team.

“Sikander is a great all-rounder, he is a great player, he is a good off-spinner, a good fielder and a good batsman. We were looking for a spinner, we had our eyes on Sandeep Lamichhane and Fawad Ahmed, the second-best option was Sikander,” he said. “Moreover, we picked the leg-spinner Usama Mir in the Silver category”

Mr Salman Iqbal sounded optimistic about the form of his players including Imad Wasim, Babar Azam and Mohammad Amir. The franchise has a good blend of local and international players in the side.

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